Author: Jennifer
Date: 3/14/2008 4:43 pm EDT
Thank you so much for replying quickly. My husband was impressed when I told him about the message board on your site. What he was even more impressed by was that I asked you exactly the question he would have asked (he just types too slow). That is really what we had planned was to install tile one day and grout the next. The day they grout we will just make sure that the kids and I stay out of the house so they can get it done without interuptions. We will definately take before and after pics and email them to you.

Thanks again!!

06-17-2009 11:30 AM

Avaire Archive

Author: Jonathan
Date: 3/14/2008 9:25 am EDT
First, thank you for purchasing Avaire! Second, we sincerely want our customers to have a delightful experience with our product - providing support to our customers through the phone or through this forum can help them be successful with their installation.

We've seen a number of jobs much larger than 400 sf, but that is a good sized floor! We have Avaire in our offices - about 1100 sf.

Regarding your grouting question, you can either wait until the entire floor is installed before grouting, or install and grout sections at a time. However, given a choice, I would recommend installing the entire floor first and then grouting because you might find that part-way through the install, you want to change the orientation. If you've already grouted part of the floor, it makes disassembly more difficult. If you haven't grouted, you simply dis-assemble and reconfigure.

If you wait a while before grouting, double check a few items before you grout:
1) Make sure the "fine alignment" is still good. You might need to realign some of the groutlines.
2) Debris can accumulate quickly in the unfilled groutlines. Please clean thoroughly before grouting.
3) Ensure that none of the tiles decoupled. While not expected, if you were to go several weeks between install and grout (and you can), it is possible with ordinary usage to "catch an edge" and decouple some tiles. Once the floor is grouted, both the alignment and coupling is locked in place and no longer an issue.

You can still grout in sections. Perhaps save the high-traffic area for a time when you can minimize usage for day or two.

Please send us pictures when you're done!

06-17-2009 11:28 AM

Avaire Archive

Avaire tile through entire main floor

Author: Jennifer
Date: 3/13/2008 10:45 am EDT
I am just wondering what the largest sq ft area that you have heard of so far? We purchased 400 sq ft of avaire tile to install on the main level of our home (excluding only the living room). This entails an entry hall, dining room, kitchen, back hall and 1/2 bath. Althought this cost us about $800 more than traditional tile we decided on this product because it can go over the lenolium (sp?). The main floor has an open flow concept and would have been difficult with wall lines and transitions to make a cut off of the tile so we are doing it all. We are going over the existing flooring which we believe to be the original (28+ yrs old). Because of its large area we plan to do it in sections. Would you advise doing all the tile laying throughout this entire area first and then grout OR do sections at a time, grout and then move to the next area?

The reason I am concerned about this is because you cannot get to any other areas of the house without stepping on this area in the front entry hall where we are laying tile. I am curious on your recommendations.

I am also very glad to see how involved you are in responding to customers and their issues. We to were concerned about spending $2,500 on a floor that the technology is so new. Would you like before and after pics of our floor?